We Built It Blog by Larry Jacob

Although Charles Manson was a career criminal and leader of a cult, to most people, his name is synonymous with one of the most gruesome and horrific series of murders of the 20th century.  On August 8-9, 1969, at his direction, various members of his “family” brutally murdered five innocent people for no other reason than that they had the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Evidently, Manson believed he had been snubbed by a previous occupant of the house, record producer Terry Melcher.  Manson had fancied himself to be a song writer.  He had gone to the house in hopes that Melcher would sign him to a recording contract.  Melcher had rebuffed him.  Manson believed he had been “dissed.”  He  wanted revenge, so he instructed his followers (“Tex” Watson, Susan Adkins, Linda Kasabian and Patricia Krenwinkel) to go there and “totally destroy everyone in [it] as gruesome as you can.”

Unbeknownst to him, on the night in question, Melcher was no longer occupying the house.  The unfortunate occupants were Sharon Tate, a young aspiring actress who was 8 1/2 months pregnant, noted hairstylist Jay Sebring, Tate’s friend and former lover,  aspiring screenwriter Wojcieh Frykowski, Abigail Folger heiress to the Folger coffee fortune and Frykowski’s lover, and Steven Parent a student who was visiting.  Tate, along with husband Roman Polanski, owned the house.  Polanski was in Europe working on a film.

The murderers followed Manson’s plan faithfully.  All of the murders were exceedingly gruesome.  It was a wanton, senseless, brutal killing frenzy.  Tate pleaded to be allowed to live long enough to have her baby.  She even offered to become a hostage.  She was stabbed 16 times, many of them in her abdomen.  Sebring was shot.  While he was lying on the floor bleeding he was kicked repeatedly in the face, breaking his nose and eye socket, then stabbed seven times.  Folger escaped the house briefly, but she was run down and tackled, then stabbed 28 times.  Frykowski ran outside where he was caught and stabbed 51 times.  Parent, who had the misfortune of driving up as the murders were being committed, was shot four times and stabbed.   As if all that were not sufficient, the murderers wrote “pig” on the front door in Tate’s blood.  Again, they were following Manson’s instructions, which was to “leave a sign… something witchy.”

The murders shocked the world with their brutality.  The group was convicted of first degree murder.  Originally, Manson was sentenced to death but, later, due to a technicality, his sentence was commuted to life with the possibility of parole.  Thankfully, he never made parole.

Charles Milles Maddox was born on November 12, 1934 in Cincinnati, Ohio.  His childhood was troubled, to say the least.  Also, many of the details are murky and mysterious.  His mother was an unmarried 16 year-old named Kathleen Manson-Bower-Cavender.  He never knew the identity of his father for sure.  He was thought to be a ne’er do well named “Colonel” Walker Henderson (who was not a “real” colonel), or it could have been a “Colonel” Scott, who may have been a “colored” cook that his mother may have been sleeping with.   In his biography Manson identified Scott as a “drugstore cowboy, a transient laborer.”   It is quite possible that Manson invented a fictional background to fill in the blanks of his ancestry.  Like I said, murky and mysterious.

At birth, he was officially identified as “no name Maddox.”  Later, he was named Charles Milles Maddox.  Eventually,  his mother married William Eugene Manson, and Charles was renamed Charles Manson.  Not much is known about William, except he was a laborer of sorts.

Manson was in and out of trouble his entire young life.  He was incarcerated various times for committing a series of crimes, including burglaries, auto thefts and armed robberies.  Basically, he was in and out of prison continually.  In the late 1960s he established the infamous cult that eventually committed the grisly murders for which he is notorious.

CONCLUSION

Charles Manson died on November 19, 2017 of natural causes.  His name is synonymous with extreme, violent, wanton murder.   Those murders shocked us to the core.  They had no redeeming features or extenuating circumstances.  He should have been executed for them.  But for a technicality, he would have been.

Now, he is gone.  Good riddance!  He has been called “the devil.”  Maybe, now he has met his namesake.

Some of you have requested another quiz, so here it is.  Be careful what you wish for.  See if you can identify the person described in the question.

As always, I tried to make it challenging but not too hard.  Have fun.  As always, no peeking at the internet.

1. I was a famous tv personality during the 1950s.  I hosted my own show, and it was very popular.  Earlier in my career I was a sports and entertainment reporter and a syndicated columnist.  (a) Arthur Godfrey, (b) Ed Sullivan, (c) Jackie Gleason, (d) Milton Berle.
2. I am a well-known rapper.  My real name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr.  (a) Snoop Dogg, (b) Jay Z, (c) Lil Wayne, (d) LL Cool J
3. I have won the most Academy Awards.  (a) Walt Disney, (b) Edith Head, (c) Spencer Tracy, (d) Meryl Streep
4. I am a famous best-selling author.  My real name is Theodore Geisel.  (a) J. K. Rowling, (b) Thomasino Gomez, (c) Stephen King, (d) Dr. Seuss
5. I am the only one in this group that was NOT Canadian-born.  (a) William Shatner, (b) Rachel McAdams, (c) Cate Blanchett, (d) Ryan Gosling
6. I was a famous actor.  I was in many Westerns.  My real name was Marion Mitchell Morrison.  (a) Randolph Scott, (b) John Wayne, (c) Ronald Reagan, (d) James Arness
7. I won the 2017 Emmy for best actress in a drama series.  (a) Viola Davis, (b) Robin Wright, (c) Elizabeth Moss, (d) Claire Fog
8. I was a 15th century explorer/cartographer.  America was named after me.  (a) Columbus, (b) de Gama, (c) Magellan, (d) Vespucci
9. I have won the most Oscars for Best Actor.  (a) Spencer Tracy, (b) Humphrey Bogart, (c) Jack Nicholson, (d) Daniel Day Lewis
10. I have won the most Oscars for Best Actress. (a) Katherine Hepburn, (b) Meryl Streep, (c) Audrey Hepburn, (d) Bette Davis
11. I was the only US President to serve two non-consecutive terms.  (a) Benjamin Harrison, (b) James K. Polk, (c) Grover Cleveland, (d) Rutherford B. Hayes
12. I was the longest-serving Prime Minister of Canada. (a) MacKenzie King, (b) Pierre Trudeau, (c) John MacDonald, (d) Lester Pearson
13. I hosted a kiddie tv show for 30 years.  My real name was Bob Keeshan.  Can you name my show?  (a) Howdy Doody, (b) Mr. Rogers, (c) Captain Kangaroo, (d) Johnny Jellybean
14. I was the only person to serve as both President and Vice President of the US without having been elected to either office.  (a) Millard Fillmore, (b) James Garfield, (c) Gerald Ford, (d) Henry Wallace
15. I served the shortest term of any US President.  (a) John Tyler, (b) Harry Truman, (c)William Henry Harrison, (d) Franklyn Pierce

ANSWERS: 1. (b),  2. (a),  3. (a)(22),  4. (d),  5  (c),  6. (b),  7. (c),  8. (d) (Amerigo Vespucci), 9. (d)(3)  10. (a) (4), 11. (c), 12. (a)(21 years),  13. (c),  14. (c),  15. (c)

Well, there you have it.  Let me know how you did.

Haym Salomon was not a soldier. He never fought in a battle.  Yet, his contributions to the success of the American Revolution were considerable, some would say, pivotal.  In my opinion, he was an unsung hero of the American Revolution, and, were it not for him, the colonies would likely never have won their freedom from England.  What did he do to earn such high praise?  Read on for the answer.

Chaim Salomon was born in Leszno, Poland in 1740 to a family of Sephardic Jews.  His ancestors had emigrated from Spain and Portugal at the end of the 15th century when the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, (yes, the same Ferdinand and Isabella who bankrolled Christopher Columbus’ voyages to the New World), had ordered the mass expulsion of Spanish Jews (or, at least, the ones who were not tortured in the Inquisition).

In his youth Salomon travelled extensively throughout Europe.  Fortuitously, he developed an affinity for finance and learned to speak several languages fluently, including Hebrew and German.

In 1775 Salomon emigrated to New York where he established himself as a prominent financial broker servicing merchants who were trading internationally.  Along the way, he anglicized his first name to “Haym.”  Sympathizing with the Patriots he joined the NY branch of the Sons of Liberty.  The British arrested him for spying in September 1776, and he spent 18 months on a British prison ship.  While imprisoned, he did not languish.  He organized the escape of several other prisoners, and being fluent in German, he worked hard to convince some of the Hessian mercenaries on the ship to abandon their support of the British.  Eventually, he was pardoned, but in 1778 he was arrested again.  This time, he was sentenced to death, but he escaped and made his way to Philadelphia, which was a Patriot hotbed.

Salomon re-established his financial brokerage business in Philadelphia with even greater success.  He became the agent to the French consul and the paymaster for French troops in North America.  In addition, in 1781 he began working with Robert Morris, who was the Superintendent for Finance for the Thirteen Colonies, to raise funds and establish lines of credit for the Continental Army.

Salomon and Morris made a formidable team for the War effort.  The Continental Army was perennially short of supplies and funds.  Necessities, such as food, medicine and uniforms, were continually in very short supply.  For example, we are all familiar with the story of the devastating winter General Washington’s troops spent at Valley Forge in 1777-78.  Soldiers were not being paid.  The Continental Congress was tapped out.  Many soldiers had simply quit when their enlistment periods ended and returned home.  Those that remained were threatening mutiny.  By late 1781 the situation had become so dire that Washington was not sure he could outfit the Army for the decisive Battle of Yorktown.

As the story goes, when Morris told Washington that there was no more money and the credit lines were exhausted Washington simply told him to “send for Haym Salomon.”   Salomon had become the  “go-to” guy for financing.  Between 1781 and 1784 he raised over $650,000 (almost $17 million in current dollars) through sales of bills of exchange and personal loans, most of which were never repaid.   (Note: a bill of exchange is akin to a promissory note or a modern-day check.  It was the primary vehicle by which merchants conducted business for credit.)   According to Morris’ diary he called upon Salomon for assistance some 75 times during this period.

Additionally, Salomon actually paid the salaries of many army officers and government officials out of his own funds.  Moreover, he personally supported several members of the Continental Congress, such as James Madison and James Wilson, who were staying in Philadelphia.  Truly, astounding.  Again, these payments and loans were never repaid.

With respect to the Battle of Yorktown, once again, Salomon came through.  As we know, the Continental Army, with the assistance of the French navy, trapped the British army on the Yorktown peninsula forcing its surrender and ending the war.  Against all odds, the colonies had won their freedom.

CONCLUSION

In addition to the foregoing Salomon is reputed to have granted bequests to those he considered to be “unsung” heroes of the Revolution – men who had given their time and fortune to the cause.   For example, Dr. Bodo Otto, a senior surgeon of the Continental Army, had given up his practice to join up at the ripe old age of 65.  He had served for the entire war.  Among other things, he had used his own funds to establish and maintain a hospital at Valley Forge.  After the war, through Salomon’s largesse, Otto was able to rebuild his medical practice.

Salomon’s story ended very badly and sadly.  He died prematurely and penniless at the young age of 44 of tuberculosis.   As I said, his loans were never repaid.

Belatedly, Salomon has received some recognition.

1. In 1939 Warner Brothers released a movie about his exploits entitled The Sons of Liberty, starring Claude Raines as Salomon.
2. In 1941 the renowned author, Howard Fast, published a book about his life entitled Haym Salomon, Son of Liberty.
3. Also in 1941 a statue depicting Washington, Morris and Salomon was erected in Chicago.   Another one was erected in Los Angeles in 1946.
4. During WWII a ship, the SS Haym Salomon, was commissioned in his honor.
5. In 1975 the US Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in his honor.

Fine and well, but the more one learns about Salomon the more one realizes that his contributions can never be repaid adequately.

Saturday, November 11, we will celebrate Veterans Day.  This year, because the holiday falls on a Saturday, many states will also hold celebrations on Friday, November 10.   Also, federal courts, some schools, and non-essential federal offices will be closed on Friday.  Most banks will be open on Friday and closed on Saturday.  There will be normal mail delivery on Friday, but not on Saturday.  As always, the financial markets will be open .

Incidentally, some of you may have noted that I spelled the holiday without an apostrophe.  My research has indicated that the official spelling is apostrophe-less, as the holiday is intended to be about honoring veterans.  Using the possessive apostrophe would indicate that the day belongs to veterans, which is not the case.

To many people, VD is merely a day off from work or a chance to spend time with family or friends. They do not stop to reflect on the significance of the holiday, its history, and the sacrifices endured by millions of people to make it all possible. Like so many things, we tend to take it for granted.

VD originated at the conclusion of WWI, which was the most devastating war up to that time. WWI lasted from 1914 to 1918. In those pre-WWII days, it was called “The Great War.” There were 37.5 million total casualties on both sides, including 8.5 million people killed. The countries with the largest number of casualties were Germany, Russia and France. The US’s casualties were relatively light, 116,000 killed and 323,000 total casualties, because it joined the war late (1917).

Most people know that the immediate cause of the war was the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by a Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip. However, every war has underlying causes as well.  The underlying causes of WWI had been building for many years. They were:

1. The proliferation of mutual defense treaties. All of the major European powers, Great Britain, France, Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary were bound by interlocking treaties. This insured that if one of these countries were to go to war all the others would be drawn in as well.

2. Imperialism. This was nothing new. Imperialism had been an issue since the 16th century. In the early 1900s it had risen to a new level. The European powers were all vying for pieces of Africa and Asia, primarily for their raw materials.

3. Militarism. The militaries in each of these countries were aggressive, bold and influential.

4. Nationalism. Various ethnic groups, notably the Slavs in Austria, wanted independence from the imperialist countries that controlled them.

Against this background, it is easy to see how a world war could break out. All that was needed was a spark, and the abovementioned assassination provided it. The principal antagonists were Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire on one side and Great Britain, France, Russia and the US on the other, although the Russians were forced to withdraw in 1917 with the advent of the Russian Revolution.

After four years of fighting, from 1914 to 1918, the combatants were finally able to agree on an armistice. It took effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918. Eventually, it was ratified by the Treaty of Versailles, which was signed June 25, 1919 at the Palace of Versailles. November 11 became known as Armistice Day. In 1919 President Woodrow Wilson made it official by proclamation.  It became an official holiday in 1938.  Armistice Day was officially changed to VD in 1954.

The “Father of Veterans Day” is a WWII veteran named Raymond Weeks. It was his idea to expand Armistice Day to include all veterans, not just those of WWI, and he became the driving force to effect this change. He petitioned General Dwight Eisenhower, and he led a national celebration every year from 1947 until his death in 1985. President Reagan honored him with the Presidential Citizenship Medal in 1982 at which time he was recognized officially as “The Father of VD.”

VD should not be confused with Memorial Day. VD celebrates the service of ALL military veterans living and dead (even non-combatants), while Memorial Day celebrates only those who died in the service of their country.

VD is celebrated in many countries. Celebrations vary. In Canada the holiday is called Remembrance Day. In Great Britain the holiday is known as Remembrance Sunday, and it is celebrated on the second Sunday of November. In both countries as well as in many European countries, the occasion is marked by a moment of silence at 11:00 am. Also, in both Canada and Great Britain some people wear poppies in their lapels as a tribute. Red poppies became a symbol of WWI after they were featured in the famous poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae.  If you are unfamiliar with the poem I urge you to google it and read it.  I am not normally a fan of poetry, but I found it very moving.

In the US we enjoy parades and other celebrations around the country. Many restaurants and other businesses offer veterans free meals or discounts on various goods and services. Additionally, there is a special ceremony in Washington, DC which features the laying of a wreath at the “Tomb of the Unknowns” at Arlington National Cemetery.

CONCLUSION

So, as you enjoy the day, take a few minutes to recognize and show respect for the veterans who sacrificed so much in order that the rest of us could enjoy the freedoms that we sometimes take for granted.  Many of us do not realize how brutal and vicious war actually is, particularly when it comes down to hand-to-hand combat where it’s you vs. the other guy, and it’s literally kill or be killed.  So, if you encounter a veteran, thank him or her for their service. It would mean a great deal to him or her to be so recognized.

Also, be cognizant of the inadequate medical services we provide our veterans, especially the significant delays in receiving medical care and other benefits. It is truly a national scandal that has received scant attention in the mainstream media and one that needs to be rectified asap.  The good news is that President Trump has been following  through on his campaign promise to rectify the situation, but much more work needs to be done.

Finally, some advice to the “anthem-kneelers.”  Find some other way to bring attention to your cause.  Attacking/disrespecting popular institutions , such as the flag, the anthem and veterans is doing you, and your cause, more harm than good.

It is significant to note that the proposed “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” is not actually a “tax cut,” as has been widely and erroneously reported.  The term “tax cut” implies that everyone will benefit from a tax reduction.  Even President Trump has stated that the proposed tax bill is designed to be “revenue neutral.”  In point of fact, in accordance with the 1985 Byrd Rule, in order for the bill to be approved by the Senate by a simple majority, it must project to raise the deficit by no more than $1.5 trillion over the next ten years.  Otherwise, 6o votes would be needed to pass the Senate, and no one thinks that will happen.

Thus, any tax bill that is passed will have winners and losers.  Obviously, everyone wants to be a winner, and no one wants to be a loser.  The bill has something for everyone – both to like and to hate.  Given the difficulty of getting Congress to agree on anything, it faces an extreme uphill battle.

The essential elements of the bill are delineated below.  Depending on your economic situation, family structure, and geographic location you will like some and hate others.

Individuals

1. The number of tax brackets will be reduced from seven to four.  The lowest bracket will be increased from 10% to 12%.
2. The standard deduction will be increased.  For example, for a married couple filing jointly it will jump from $12,700 to $24,000.  Thus, such a family unit would not pay any taxes on the first $24,000 of income.  Sounds great, but the personal exemptions of $4,050 per person would be eliminated, which would mitigate, or in large families offset, this benefit.  Lower income families with many children and/or elderly or blind members could even face an increased tax burden.
3. The current rules regarding 401Ks and IRAs would not be changed.
4. The child care credit ceiling would be increased from $1,000 to $6,000, and an additional $300 credit would be added for non-child care, such as for parents.
5. The alternative minimum tax would be repealed.  In my opinion, this provision is the “king of ‘unintended consequences.’ ”  When it was enacted in the 1960s it was intended to apply only to the very rich who had employed a variety of tools to avoid taxes.  However, it was not indexed to inflation.  So, over the years it has ensnared many middle income taxpayers as well.
6. Mortgage interest will be reduced to $500,000 for new homes.
7. The deduction for property taxes would be limited to $10,000.
8. The deduction for state and local taxes would be eliminated.  These last two may doom the bill since no Congressman from NY, California, or any other highly taxed state could afford to vote for them, politically.  That, folks, is a lot of “nay” votes.
9. Repeals the estate tax.  Although this action will help many small business owners and farmers, it has been widely perceived as a major benefit for the wealthy, and it is one of the more controversial provisions of the bill.

Business

1. Reduces the rate on small and family-owned business profits (sole proprietorships, partnerships and subchapter S corporations, from a high of 39.5% to 25%.
2. Provides for repatriation of profits being maintained overseas at a rate of 20%.

CONCLUSION

In my opinion, the bill is doomed to failure in its present form for the following reasons:

1. Although tax cuts are always popular, it is not a tax cut per se.
2. It is perceived, by many, as too beneficial to the rich.
3. Its primary claim, that it will spur economic growth over the next several years, is disputed, open to interpretation, and is more than offset by the deficiencies stated above.
4. It contains three very toxic provisions – elimination of state and local taxes and estate taxes and reduction of the mortgage interest deduction.
5. Few, if any Dems will vote for it, and none from the populous, highly-taxed states, such as NY, NJ, CA, and MA.
6. In order to pass, the bill needs the support of every Republican.  Unfortunately, some conservative GOP Congressmen, such as Senator Bob Corker, have already stated they adamantly oppose it because they feel it will add to the deficit.
7. Perhaps, most telling, is that neither President Trump nor his key legislative advisors and leaders, such as Messrs. Pence, Ryan and McConnell, have demonstrated an ability to finesse legislation through a contentious and antagonistic Congress.  Therefore, the chances of them being successful with this bill are slim.

Despite the foregoing, I believe that the bill is salvageable, but it will take a lot of work.  I am in favor of tax reform, but not this bill in its present form.

This will be an excellent opportunity for President Trump to show off his vaunted  negotiating skills.  His presidency needs a legislative win badly.  Lets see if he can pull it off.

Exactly what are “opioids?  How are they used and misused?  Do we have an “opioid crisis in the US as many have alleged?  If so, what do we do about it?  Good questions.  Read on for the answers.

Opioids are a rather diverse group of drugs, commonly prescribed to alleviate pain.  They include familiar names, such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin and Fentanyl.  When taken as prescribed by a physician they can be very beneficial.  The problem comes when they are abused, which, unfortunately, is quite common.  Many people get “hooked” on them and use them as a “recreational “drug.  Taken to excess they, quite simply, can kill you.  Furthermore, in some cases they have served as a “gateway” to other “hard” drugs, such as heroin.

According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration the country is in the midst of an opioid crisis that has reached “epidemic levels.”  Moreover, Thomas Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control, has declared that “America is awash in opioids; urgent action is critical.”  President Trump has characterized the opioid crisis as a “national emergency” and has appointed a “drug czar” to address it.

Some disturbing facts, with respect to opioids:

1. According to the USDA, almost 50% of opioid overdoses are now attributable to prescription opioids.  To put this in perspective, the total deaths from opioids exceeds the total deaths from both car accidents and guns.
2. Presently, drug overdose is the leading cause of death in adults under the age of 50, and 2/3 of those deaths are attributable to opioids.
3. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse over 90 Americans die of an opioid overdose EVERY DAY.  Roll that statistic around in your head for a minute.  Ninety people, day after day after day.
4. The CDC has estimated the total “economic burden,” including factors such as healthcare, addiction treatment, lost productivity and criminal justice involvement, at some $79 billion annually.  This does not include non-measurable factors, such as the emotional stress on families that include a member suffering from addiction.
5. The National Institute of Health is the country’s pre-eminent medical research agency with respect to the opioid crisis.  It is charged with researching ways to prevent, treat and manage opioid use and misuse.  Some of its more disturbing findings:

a.  Some 25% of persons who take prescribed opioids “misuse” them, i.e. take too much, which leads to addiction or other problems.

b.  Approximately 5% of the above persons “graduate” to heroin.

c.  About 80% of heroin users started with opioids.

d.  Users’ injection of these drugs has contributed to the proliferation of infectious diseases, such as HIV and Hepatitis C.

According to Wikipedia:

1. Addiction and overdose victims are mostly white and working class.
2. Geographically, persons living in rural areas have been hit the hardest.
3. Teenagers account for roughly 1/3 of all new abusers of prescription drugs.  Such abuse exceeds that for all illicit drugs, such as cocaine, meth, and heroin.

So, how did we get here?   According to the Surgeon General it began in the 1990s with physicians’ excessive prescribing of these drugs.  According to Wikipedia between 1991 and 2011 prescriptions for opioids grew from 76 million to 219 million per year.  These drugs have proved to be very effective at enabling us to manage pain.  Furthermore, drug companies marketed them aggressively, and those suffering from chronic pain (some 100 million of us) saw them as a panacea.   Some physicians viewed them as an easy solution to their patients’ medical issues, and prescribed them when other treatments might have sufficed.  No one seemed to realize and appreciate their potency and ability to foster dependence.

Many patients acquired a tolerance and a dependency.  Some managed to feed their needs through doubling up on prescriptions from multiple providers, such as multiple doctors, foreign sources or drug “pushers.”  Some turned to heroin, which is cheaper, easier to obtain, and generally more powerful, particularly when “spiked with fentanyl, a devastating drug that is 100 times more powerful than morphine and 50 times more powerful than heroin.  In addition, the person using it often does not realize that it is present.  Fentanyl has caused an extreme escalation of this crisis.  The CDC reports that death rates from fentanyl and other “synthetics” increased 72% from 2014 to 2015, the last year for which such statistics are available.  There is no reason to believe that that trend has not continued.

CONCLUSION

So what are the solutions?  Are there any, or are we just doomed to become a nation of unproductive, drug-abusing zombies?

Consider the following:

1. In 2010 the Federal Government began cracking down on physicians and pharmacists who were over-prescribing opioids.  (In some cases, this action may have driven some users to heroin and other illicit drugs.)  I already mentioned President Trump’s appointment of a drug czar.
2. In 2016 the CDC published its “Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain.”
3. Most every state now has its own prescription drug monitoring programs.
4. The media has contributed to publicizing the opioid epidemic through tv special news reports designed to educate people as to the consequences of overuse of these drugs.
5. Today, physicians are generally very cognizant of the danger of these drugs and the consequences of over-prescribing.   For example, my pain management doctor has very stringent procedures for dispensing these drugs.  Also, many providers have hired security guards to deal with potential patient violence.  Finally, according to one of my personal physicians, many doctors simply will not prescribe any opioids for any purpose for fear of being accused of overprescribing.

All of the foregoing actions are fine as far as they go.  However, in a free society the government and other external sources can only do so much.

Recognizing that there is a problem is the first step towards solving it.  For the most part, we have done this.  Ultimately, I believe it will be the personal responsibility of each individual to take care of his own body.

On Tuesday, October 31, many of us will celebrate Halloween. We will dress up in costumes and attend parties. Children will go door-to-door “trick or treating.” Of course, some will use the holiday as an excuse to create mischief or even mayhem, but for most of us it will be a day of fun and games and an opportunity to gorge ourselves on candy.
But, few, if any, of us will bother to stop and think about the origins of the holiday. When and where did it begin? How did it evolve? Why do we dress up in costumes? Why do we go “trick or treating?” Glad you asked. Read on.

The origin of Halloween is a Celtic holiday dedicated to the dead. Although the Celts were interspersed in many areas of Europe, they were concentrated in what is now, England, Ireland and Scotland. The Celts divided the year into four sections, each of which was marked by a major holiday. The beginning of the winter season was November 1, which was celebrated by a festival called “Samhein,” pronounced “Sah-ween,” which means “end of summer” in old Irish. The word “Halloween” can be traced back as far as 1745. It means “hallowed evening” or “holy evening.” It is derived from a Scottish term for “All Hallows Eve,” the evening before “All Hallows Day,” aka “All Saints Day.” Over time, the word “evening” was contracted to “e’en,” thus Halloween.

The Celts were a pagan people and very superstitious. They believed that the ghosts of those who had died during the year had not yet completed their journey to the “otherworld,” and at Samhein they were able to mingle with the living. Accordingly, to placate these ghosts and other spirits the Celts offered sacrifices and lit bonfires to aid them on their journey. It has been suggested that the origin of wearing costumes was to disguise oneself from any lost soul that might be seeking vengeance on the living before moving on the next world. Some, believing that the souls of those who had died recently were still wandering in a sort of purgatory, set a place for them at dinner. Many of these ancient traditions have persisted to this day in some locales.

In 601 Pope Gregory I issued an edict, the gist of which was that missionaries were to combine Christian holidays and festivals with existing pagan holidays and festivals and, hopefully, eventually supersede them. The ultimate objective was to foster the conversion of pagans to Christianity. As a result, All Saints Day, aka All Hallows Day, was moved to November 1 to coincide with Samhein.

By the end of the 12th century other Halloween traditions had developed. For example, the clergy would ring church bells for the souls stuck in purgatory; and “criers,” dressed in black, would parade through towns reminding the citizens to remember these poor souls. In about the 15th century people began to bake “soul cakes,” which are small round cakes, a practice called “souling,” which is believed to be a forerunner of “trick or treating.” Poor people would go door-to-door and collect these cakes in exchange for saying prayers for the dead. Interestingly, Shakespeare mentioned “souling” in “The Two Gentlemen of Varona” in 1593.  Over time, celebrations of All Hallows Day began to include additional customs, such as “trick or treating,” lighting bonfires, attending costume parties, carving “jack-o’-lanterns, apple “bobbing,” and attending church services.

As mentioned above, it is believed that the practice of “trick-or-treating” was derived from “souling” or “mumming,” which is going house-to-house in disguise singing songs in exchange for food. This was believed to have originated in Scotland and Wales in the 16th century. Sometimes people would paint their faces and threaten mischief if they were not welcomed. This evolved into the customs of wearing costumes and playing pranks. Nocturnal pranksters needed illumination, hence the development of jack-o-lanterns. In England, people would fashion them out of turnips or mangel wurzels, which are large, thick roots suitable for carving. In America, pumpkins were used, because they were plentiful and better suited for carving anyway. Jack-o-lanterns are believed to frighten evil spirits. In France, people believed that the dead buried in cemeteries would rise up and participate in a wild carnival-like celebration known as the “Danse Macabre,” or “Dance of Death.”

“Trick or treating,” as such, is a relatively modern development. As I said, it is believed to have evolved from “souling” or “mumming.” The earliest mention of it in print was in 1927, and it did not become widespread until the 1930s in the US. Also, costuming has evolved. Popular fictional characters have been added to the traditional skeletons, ghosts and ghouls. Basically, now, anything goes.

CONCLUSION

At the present time, Halloween, like other holidays, has become highly commercialized. Selling costumes and other related paraphernalia has become big business. The original religious significance of the holiday has been eclipsed and forgotten by most people. Yes, some people still attend church, but many more attend parties. Many if not most people, especially children, know Halloween merely as a day to dress in costumes and go “trick or treating.” We do love our candy.

In the last few years, the “PC Police” have inserted themselves into the holiday.   Some of them have maintained that certain costumes are “racist” and should be avoided.  I think we can all agree that a Caucasian should not dress up in “blackface.”  But, the PC Police go much further.  They also disapprove of any costumes that could be perceived by anyone as mocking or derogatory.  Some examples would likely include Disney’s Moana, Aztec Indians, Tom Thumb, or Pancho Villa, which, in their minds, could be objectionable to Polynesians, Indigenous People, short people (or should I say “vertically challenged?” I have trouble keeping up with all the PC buzzwords), or Hispanics, respectively.  I say, if your five year-old loves Moana and wants to dress up like her, go for it.  Is that really being insensitive or racist?  Really?   Do the people who are marketing Moana costumes really expect to sell them only to Polynesians?  I think not!  To me, these objections are just another example of some people who want to dictate to others how to act and live.

Hopefully, after reading this blog you will have gained some knowledge of and perspective as to the origin and meaning of the holiday.  Enjoy!

If I were to ask you to name the most influential and successful rock ‘n roll stars of the 1950s you would probably say Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly or, perhaps, Chuck Berry.  Good choices.  But, I submit that Fats Domino belongs right up there with them.  According to Wikipedia he was Elvis’ chief rival during the late 1950s.  Perhaps, one reason why he has not gotten his full due was his humility and shy, uncharismatic, almost deferential, demeanor.

Some of the biggest rock ‘n roll stars of the 1950s and 1960s, such as Elvis, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, “Yellowman” (Jamaican reggae artist), and Richard Hell, (an early punk rocker) have acknowledged he was a strong influence on their careers.   For example, McCartney claimed the Beatles’ hit “Lady Madonna” was based on Fats’ style; and “Yellowman” and Hell covered many of his songs, such as “Blueberry Hill” and “I Lived My Life.”

Elvis introduced Fats at one of his concerts as “[the] gentleman [who] was a huge influence on me when I started out.”  He added, “A lot of people seem to think I started this business.  But, rock ‘n roll was here a long time before I came along.  …. Let’s face it: I can’t sing it like Fats Domino can.”  Moreover, when Elvis was introduced at one of his other concerts as “The King,” a moniker with which most people would concur, he pointed to Domino, who happened to be in the audience, and said “no, that’s the real ‘King.’ ”

Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr. was born on February 26, 1928 in New Orleans.  He was delivered at home by his grandmother, who was a midwife.  His parents were of French Creole extraction.  He was the youngest of eight children.  The family was poor, and young Antoine had to quit school in the fourth grade to work.  One of his early jobs was to help deliver ice, a backbreaking way to earn money.

Fats learned to play the piano from his brother-in-law.  At 14 he was performing in local bars.  In 1947 bandleader Billy Diamond hired him to play piano in his band for the princely sum of $3 per week.  It was Diamond who nicknamed Antoine “Fats” due, in part, to his huge appetite, but mostly because Diamond thought he bore a striking resemblance to renowned pianists Fats Waller and Fats Pinchon.

Fats signed with Imperial Records in 1949.  His first big hit was “The Fat Man,” followed up by a string of hits familiar to rock ‘n roll fans, including “Ain’t That a Shame,” “Blueberry Hill,” and “I’m Walkin’.”  During his career Fats sold over 65 million records.  He had eleven Top Ten hits, 35 records in the US Billboard Top 40, and several “gold” records (sales in excess of one million).  During the late 1950s he sold more records than any artist except Elvis.  Yet, curiously, not one of his records ever reached #1 on the Pop Charts.  (“Blueberry Hill,” perhaps, his best, topped out at #2.)

Fats was a big “crossover” star, R & B and Pop.  Also, he was one of the first stars to appeal to both whites and blacks, and his concerts were among the first to be integrated.  Consequently, on at least four occasions violence broke out, and one time Fats had to jump out of a window to escape a melee.

Fats received countless honorariums during his long career.  For example:

1. He was among the first musicians to be inducted into The Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame..
2. President Clinton presented him with the National Medal of Arts.
3. He was a recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and Offbeat Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
4. In 2004 Rolling Stone ranked him #24 in its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time.”

CONCLUSION

Fats remained in New Orleans after retirement.  He loved the city and could often be seen tooling around in his pink Caddy.  Also, he would make frequent appearances at local events, such as the Jazz and Heritage Festival.  When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005 his house was in one of the severely flooded areas, and for a time, he was missing and feared dead.  Eventually, to the great relief of his many fans, he was rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter.

Fats passed away on October 24, 2017 at the age of 89.  He is gone, but his music will live on forever.

The 113th World Series, aka “The Fall Classic,” will be contested between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros.  It will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, October 24 in Los Angeles.   The Dodgers won 104 games during the regular season, the most of any  team, and have not been to the WS since 1988.  The Astros won 101 games and this will be the franchise’s first trip to the WS.  This will be the first matchup of two 100 win teams since 1970 (Reds-Orioles).  The Dodgers are favored, in part, because, if the series goes the distance four of the seven games will be played in LA.

Some WS facts:
1. The first modern WS was played in 1903.  It was arranged by the owners of the two league champions.  The Boston Pilgrims beat the Pittsburgh Pirates five games to three to win the first world championship.

2. There was no WS in 1904 as the owner of the NL champion Giants refused to play the champion of the “upstart,” “inferior” AL.

3. Beginning in 1905 the two leagues arranged the WS, and it has been played every year since then, except for 1994 during the players’ strike.  Neither war nor earthquake has cancelled it.

4. The first night game was Game 4 of the 1971 WS in Three Rivers Stadium between Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

5. In 1989 Candlestick Park in San Francisco, the site of Game 3, was damaged by a massive earthquake before the game, which shook the Bay Area.  The Series was delayed for ten days, but not cancelled.

6. From 1903 through 2002 the AL and NL alternated home field advantage.  In 2003 MLB, in what I believe to have been a misguided attempt to increase interest in the mid-season All-Star Game, decided to award home field advantage to the league that won the game.  This year MLB finally abandoned that ill-advised policy and awarded home field to the team with the best record (LA).

7.  The AL has won 64 of the previous 112 Series (57%).

8. The Yankees have made the most appearances (40) and won the most championships (27).

9.  There has been only one no-hitter in the WS.  Actually, it was a perfect game.  It was pitched by the Yankees’ Don Larsen, a journeyman pitcher, in 1956 against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

10.  Unlike some other sports where the best regular season teams generally win the championship, the team with the highest regular season winning percentage has only won the WS about one-half of the time.  In fact, in the wild card era, with the extra layers of playoff series, the best regular season team often does not even reach the WS.

11.  Only one WS MVP has been a member of the losing team (more on that later).

12.  Only a handful of players have been good enough to play at the highest levels in two of the major sports, and only one has been lucky enough to play in both the WS and the Super Bowl.  Can you name him?  See answer below.

There have been many memorable WS.  All fans have their favorites.  Personally, I have seven, which I will profile below.  These were not only exciting in their own right and/or featured a memorable play, but also had some significance to the sport in addition to the game itself.  So, in chronological order:

1. 1955 –  The Brooklyn Dodgers win their first and only WS – Despite having tremendous teams featuring various future Hall-of-Famers, every time the Dodgers played the Yankees in the WS they had lost.  A key hit here, a key error there, same result.  The Dodgers were living up to (or down to) their unofficial nickname – the “Bums.”  Year after year, the Dodger fans’ famous refrain was “Wait until next year.”  Well, this year it was the Dodgers that made the key play.  In the decisive Game 7 Sandy Amoros, an unheralded utility player who had been inserted into left field as part of a “double-switch,” made one of the most amazing catches in WS history to save the game, and the Dodgers won 2-0.  “Next year” had finally arrived, and a ten year old boy on Long Island became a Dodgers fan for life.  As one NY paper touted the next day “Who’s a Bum?!”
2. 1960 –  Pirates Beat Yanks – This was an odd Series.  The Yankees were clearly the better team.  They outperformed the Bucs in every category.  They won their three games by a combined score of 38-3!  Bobby Richardson, the second baseman, was named MVP, the only time a player from a losing team has been so honored.  But, the Bucs won four close games and the Series.  The seventh game was, perhaps, the best of all WS games.  It doesn’t have the cache of other famous games, because it was played in the afternoon before a relatively small tv audience, rather than in prime time.  Not only was it close; it had several twists and turns and memorable plays.  Also, it was the deciding game and featured a “walk-off” homer by the Pirates’ Bill Mazeroski in the bottom of the 9th inning.  Ironically, Maz was a light hitter, known primarily for his fielding.  Many people believe that single homer was responsible for his getting voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Another outcome was that the Yanks fired their manager, Casey Stengel, which made him available to become the first manager of the Mets two years later.
3. 1969 – The Mets win their first title –  On paper this was a huge mismatch.  The AL champion Orioles had won 109 games and blown through the playoffs.  They were very strong in all three areas – pitching, hitting and defense.  The Mets, though sporting the best record in the NL, were still viewed by many as lovable losers.  Indeed, they had finished ninth the previous year.  Only the most optimistic fans gave them much of a chance.  Yet, they got the key hits and made the key plays in the field.  They not only won but did so in five games.
4. 1975 – Boston Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk “pushed” his home run fair to win game 6. The Cincinnati Reds were considered to be the superior team.  Known as the “Big Red Machine” because of their powerful offense they had won 108 games during the regular season and had swept the Pirates in the NL playoffs.  But, Boston was a popular and exciting underdog.  The Series became memorable because of Game 6.  The Reds led three games to two and 6-3 when the “Saux” tied the game with a pinch hit three-run homer.  Then, in the bottom of the 12th Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk led off with a drive down the left field line.  Clearly, it had the distance, but would it go fair or foul.  TV replays showed Fisk standing at home plate waving his hands to the right as if to “push” the ball “fair.”  It was “fair,” winning the game.  That was a seminal WS and tv moment.  But, the Reds spoiled the Cinderella story by winning the next day 4-3.
5. 1985 – KC wins with an “assist” from the umpire –  This was known as the I-70 or “Show-Me” Series because St Louis and KC were both in Missouri and were connected by Interstate 70.  St. Louis seemed to have the Series won.  They were ahead three games to two and 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning when disaster struck.  The first base umpire, Don Denkinger, missed an obvious call, ruling a KC runner safe when tv replays clearly showed him to be out.  But, this was before replay reviews, and the erroneous call stood.  Given the extra out KC went on to win the game and the next day as well, winning the Series.  Tough break for the Cards, but they still had their chances to win.  All they had to do was get out of the inning or win Game 7.  Champions have to be resilient.
6. 1986 – Mets win, barely –  On paper, the NY Mets were the better team and were big favorites.  But, they lost the first two games at home.  They won Games 3 and 4 to even the Series, but proceeded to lose Game 5 and were trailing in Game 6 by 5-3 in the bottom of the tenth with two out and none on.  Then, they staged the most unlikely of rallies.  Three straight singles with two strikes on the batters and a wild pitch tied the score.  Next Mookie Wilson hit a routine ground ball to first base, which, inexplicably, rolled between first baseman Bill Buckner’s legs and under his glove.  The winning run scored, and the Mets won Game 7 as well.  WHEW!  That rally proved the old baseball adage.  “The game is not over until the last out.”  Baseball is the only sport in which the clock does not run out on the trailing team.  Regardless of the score, you get your “last licks.”  Many fans, especially Mets fans, consider that Game 6 to be the best WS ever.
7. 2016 – “Cubs win, Cubs win!  The Chicago Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians four games to three to win their first WS since 1908, thus ending the longest championship drought in North American professional sports history.  In addition, they expunged various “jinxes, ” including the “Billy Goat jinx” and the “Bartman jinx.” Game 7 was a real thriller.  It went extra innings, and featured a rain delay in the 9th inning.  Many fans consider it to be the best WS game ever.

CONCLUSION

This series will match two franchises with a lot to prove.  The Dodgers have not won the WS since 1988, a historic drought for them.  The Astros have never won a WS.  Both teams won over 100 games this year.  Both feature strong offenses and dominant frontline pitching.  The Dodgers have an edge in the bullpen and on defense, plus the extra home game and are slight favorites.

However, no one knows what will happen, including the so-called “experts.”  Fans know that you play the game on the field, not on paper.  In a short series anything can happen.  History tells us that an unlikely hero or two will emerge to lead his team to victory.  Who will it be?  Your guess is as good as mine.  Enjoy the Series.

Full disclosure:  I “bleed Dodger Blue.”  Go Dodgers!!

Quiz answer:  Deon Sanders – 1992 WS and 1995 and 1996 Super Bowls.

We all have our pet peeves – things (or people) that annoy us.  Often, our adverse reaction is extreme, over-the-top, or even irrational.  We can’t explain why a particular thing bothers us, it just does.  Why, you may be asking, is he wasting his time writing about such things?  The polite answer is I just wanted to get them “off my chest.”  The not-so-polite answer is, to paraphrase the late singer Lesley Gore, “It’s my blog, and I can write what I want to.”

So, in no particular order, below please find my list.   I am sure that some of these annoy many of you as well.

1. Restaurants/doctors that overbook –  You enter a restaurant, and immediately see a crowd of people in the lobby.  The receptionist tells you it will be “a few minutes.”  Everyone else seems to have a reservation too.  Oh boy!  This can definitely put a damper on a pleasant evening.  What is the point of taking a reservation in the first place if you are going to make your customers wait anyway?  Do they think I’m going to sit at the bar and run up a $100 liquor bill while waiting for a table?  I don’t like going to these restaurants, but I do so for three reasons: (a) the food is really good, (b) my wife wants to go there, and (c) I want to keep my wife happy.  Nevertheless, whenever this happens I’m reminded of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry admonishes the restaurateur that he “knows how to make a reservation but not how to keep one.”   Doctors who overbook strike me as indifferent to their patients’ convenience.  Their attitude is “my time is more valuable than yours.”  My solution is to take the first appointment of the day whenever possible (although once I showed up for the “first  appointment” only to discover that there were two other people ahead of me who also had the “first  appointment”).
2. Common courtesy –  Common courtesy, like “common sense,” is far from common.  I have noticed that many, if not most, people do not say “please” or “thank you” anymore.  And “your welcome” is non-existent.  In addition, some people, refuse to hold the door for you, even if you are a woman, elderly or laden with packages.
3. Electronic devices –  Cell phones, I Phones, tablets, etc., are, possibly, the worst inventions ever.  How many times have you observed people walking in the street or through a parking lot absorbed in these devices and not paying attention?  How many times have you observed an entire family sitting in a restaurant where everyone is absorbed in his device rather than talking with each other, or even eating?  How many times have you observed drivers being more attentive to their devices than to their driving?  How many near-accidents have you had because of them?  ‘Nough said.
4. Driving –  It’s amazing how many drivers don’t know how to drive and how many lack common courtesy to other drivers.  Driving can be hazardous, and not just on the road.  The mere act of exiting a parking space can be a dangerous experience, especially while one is backing out.  For example, people blithely walk behind you.  Other drivers will go past your space too fast.  Trucks and SUVs parked next to you create blind spots.   It can be a virtual obstacle course.  I try to park facing forward, although some parking lots expressly forbid it.  How often have you observed a driver who is texting/emailing/talking on the phone?  How many times have you seen a driver rolling through a “stop” sign, failing to ingress onto a highway properly, or driving slowly in the left lane, or the HOV lane?  I can’t decide whether those drivers are stupid, arrogant, discourteous, oblivious, or all of the above.
5. Foreign language telephone prompts –  At the risk of being politically incorrect, let me just say that this annoys me.  After all, we are in the US.  I suspect I’m not alone in this.
6. President Trump’s tweets –  I’m a big Trump supporter, and I understand that there are times he has to bypass the media, which he perceives as being slanted against him.  But, I think he overdoes it, and, at times, his tweets are inappropriate.
7. Al Sharpton –  In my view, he is nothing more than a “race hustler.”  He continually shows up when he senses an opportunity to foment dissension and controversy and advance his own “brand.”  He does nothing to solve the problems minorities face, such as prejudice, poverty, inadequate education and gun violence.  More often than not, he is wrong, e.g. Tawana Brawley, Duke Lacrosse, Ferguson, MO.  Ironically, he is respected by many in the minority community, and if he wanted  he could be a positive force in race relations.
8. Hillary Clinton –  Enough, already!  You lost.  You bear the responsibility for the loss for various reasons, which I have articulated in previous blogs.  You’re not the champion of women’s rights you pretend to be.  You’re a disingenuous phony.  Stop making lame excuses and advancing criticisms without offering meaningful solutions.   You’re hurting your own political party. Just go away!
9. Congress –  In 1948 Harry Truman won re-election, in large part, by labelling the Congress as a “do nothing Congress.”  That is what we have now.  The Congress cannot seem to get out of its own way.  Its leadership seems incapable of forging any compromises on anything.  This has been true for several years.  I wouldn’t characterize it as the fault of either political party, as it seems to be embedded in both sides.
10. Telephone solicitors –  I know they have a job to do, but there should be a special place in hell for these people.  The “do not call” law has more holes in it than Swiss cheese.  These people call repeatedly; they call at all hours; they block their phone numbers; and they even call on local exchanges in an attempt to deceive you into answering.  Thank God for caller ID, but they are still most annoying.

CONCLUSION

Well, there you have it.  I feel so much better for getting these peeves off my chest.  Have I missed any?  Let me know.